Yummy Healthy Easy

Make dinner EASY with this Instant Pot Salsa Chicken! Throw a few easy ingredients in the Instant Pot and the result is perfectly tender chicken you can put in taco shells, on salads or just devour all by itself. A delicious and healthy dinner recipe!

If you find yourself walking through the door at the end of a busy day, thinking, what in the heck am I going to make for dinner?! I’ve got the PERFECT dinner recipe for you – Instant Pot Salsa Chicken!!

I have a serious love/hate relationship with my slow cooker. I love the idea of being able to put ingredients into it in the morning to then come home at the end of the day to an already-made dinner. I love that idea! BUT a couple things I hate are the fact that sometimes the meat ends up rubbery, or just having that “crock pot taste”. Since every slow cooker is different, sometimes the cooking time in one recipe just doesn’t work with your slow cooker.

Last November on Black Friday, I spotted a fabulous deal on the infamous Instant Pot and I immediately purchased it. You guys, it literally sat in the box on my kitchen table for two months. TWO MONTHS!! I think I was just annoyed with the fact that I would have to learn how to use it, and I was pretty sure it would take me forever to get the process down.

Finally I got the guts to open the box and read the instructions on how it worked. This recipe was the first recipe I ever made and I’ve made it dozens of times since, tweaking the recipe to perfection!

Here’s the best part, you can make this with thawed boneless, skinless chicken breasts or even rock solid frozen ones! The first time I tried it with frozen chicken breasts, I really didn’t know how well it would turn out. Seriously though, the meat was so tender that when you tried to take a chicken breast from the Instant Pot, it would literally just fall apart into pieces. Y-U-M!

This has since become a staple dinner in my house. If I have no clue what to make for dinner, I’ll just grab some chicken from the freezer and make a big batch of Instant Pot Salsa Chicken. It makes amazing tacos or it’s great on a bed of crispy lettuce for a low carb dinner. Of course it’s delicious on its own, too! Leftovers are always amazing, too! I hope you’ll give this Instant Pot Salsa Chicken recipe a try for dinner tonight!

Satisfy your taco craving the lower carb way with this Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash! All the yumminess of tacos mixed with spaghetti squash for a filling, low carb dinner the whole family will love!

This Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is filled with all the best taco flavors, with less carbs! My Birthday was last weekend! I was able to get away with a couple of my best girlfriends and head to Hollywood. We ate at some of the best places in the area: Chateau Marmont, The Den and Pink Taco. We had such a great time eating ALL the food. It was so much fun!

One of my favorite foods is homemade tacos. I love tacos so much. I’m not even kidding, I literally make them at least once a week, because it’s something my entire family likes and will actually eat without complaining, lol! But if I’m honest with myself, tacos probably aren’t the healthiest of all dinner choices, right?

Too many carbs in the tortilla shells! So I brainstormed ideas on ways I could still eat tacos but skip some of the carbs. I love spaghetti squash recipes so thought why not take the deliciousness of tacos and mix it with spaghetti squash to lower the carbs while still getting the taco flavors? The outcome was pretty darn delicious!

This is definitely a recipe that you can mess around with, too. You can add in different elements of tacos that you like. I wanted to add jalapeño to mine but knew my picky boys wouldn’t like that idea, lol. You can top with cilantro, avocado, pretty much any taco topping that you like. I hope this is a winner of a dinner for your next Taco Tuesday! Enjoy!

Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash - all the yumminess of tacos mixed with spaghetti squash for a satisfying, low carb dinner!

Author: Jen Nikolaus

Recipe type: Dinner

Ingredients

1 (3-4 pound) spaghetti squash

1 pound lean ground beef

1 tsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste

½ tsp. black pepper

3 tsp. chili powder

1½ tsp. cumin

1 (14.5-oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained

Mozzarella cheese, for topping

Instructions

Cut the spaghetti squash in half and take out the seeds. Place on a shallow baking dish with about an inch of water in it. Microwave for 5 minutes. Test to see if cooked by piercing it with a fork.

Continue to microwave in 5 minute increments as needed until cooked. (You can also do the halves one at a time if they don't fit in your microwave together.) Set aside and let cool slightly.

In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a pan. Sauté garlic, onion and bell pepper and cook until softened. Add in ground beef and break up with a spatula.

When beef is cooked, add salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin, then pour in diced tomatoes. Cook until everything is heated through.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Scrape the insides of spaghetti squash into the beef mixture and stir until all the squash is incorporated. Pour mixture back inside the two squash halves and place in a baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes, or until heated through. Top with cheese and place back in oven until cheese is melted, another 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

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If you liked this stuffed spaghetti squash recipe, you might like these too:

(This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Balance Your Plate and CPK Frozen. The opinions and text are all mine.)

Making healthy side dishes doesn’t have to be hard or take a lot of time! Here are two easy and delicious recipes perfect for pizza night: Kale Caesar Salad with Shrimp and Baked Sweet Potato Fries with a Sriracha Dipping Sauce! Raise your hand if this holiday season has been the busiest yet? I feel like I’m struggling to get a homemade dinner on the table.

What’s really helped me in the dinner department is using frozen prepared foods to help round out my meals. It saves so much time to heat up a frozen pizza like California Pizza Kitchen‘s Crispy Thin Crust Pizza’s (Five Cheese and Tomato is my favorite!) Put together a couple of fruit and veggie side dishes while the pizza is cooking in the oven and dinner is finished in no time!

Whether it’s date night while the kids are at a friend’s or Friday family pizza & game night, you can make a delicious, easy and balanced meal in under 20 minutes. Just because it’s a busy holiday season doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste, nutrition or convenience. Remember to use your freezer and Balance Your Plate to make your life easier!

You will love these two easy side dishes that I paired with my pizza! I made a Kale Caesar Salad that I added shrimp to, tossed with a homemade dressing that was SO good and super simple. I also made some Baked Sweet Potato Fries that were quick and easy and dipped them in a Sriracha Mayo dipping sauce. Holy yum! Paired with a slice of CPK’s Five Cheese & Tomato Pizza, this was an easy dinner the whole family enjoyed! I hope you’ll give these recipes a try!

Meanwhile, mix together the Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice and zest, anchovy paste, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce in a blender or food processor. Add in milk a little at a time until thickness desired. Taste and add seasonings as desired. Set aside.

Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil and salt & pepper. Place them on one side of a sheet pan in one layer.

Once the pizza is finished, pull from oven and keep warm.

Turn the oven temperature up to 425º F and bake sweet potatoes for 18-20 minutes, or until fork tender. Remove from oven.

Meanwhile, toss shrimp with olive oil and salt & pepper and place on the opposite side of the sheet pan with the sweet potatoes. Turn the oven to the broil setting and place back in the oven. Broil the sweet potatoes and shrimp until the shrimp are opaque and the sweet potatoes are toasted.

Mix together the mayo and Sriracha and serve alongside the sweet potato fries.

Toss the kale with the homemade Caesar salad dressing. Top with shrimp and add croutons and shredded parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with a slice of pizza and enjoy!

Looking for a unique Thanksgiving dessert recipe? You won’t want to miss this roundup of over 15 of the BEST Thanksgiving Desserts!

Celebrate Thanksgiving with these 15+ Thanksgiving desserts! I literally can’t believe Thanksgiving is coming up this week. Where in the world did the time go?! Guess what else is terrifying? Christmas is only 5 weeks away! Yikes! I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas gifts! What are your Turkey Day plans? Do you cook a big meal or go out to a restaurant?

My favorite part of the dinner is obviously dessert. Who doesn’t love a whole smorgasbord of all kinds of pies and other yummy desserts? If you’re looking to up your dessert game, you will love this roundup of 15+ Thanksgiving desserts below! There are all kinds of things for you to make. Even if Thanksgiving has already passed, you’ll still be able to find a delicious dessert idea for anytime of the year. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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These 15+ Fall Slow Cooker Recipes will get you in the mood for all things fall! You will LOVE these crock pot recipes – from drinks to desserts, I’ve got you covered with over 15 delicious recipes all in one spot!

Get ready for fall with these 15+ Fall Slow Cooker Recipes! You will be grabbing that crock pot out of hiding and making all of these delicious recipes this fall season! I don’t know about you, but I LOVE my slow cooker. I use it all year round. I have friends that refuse to use it during the summer months but I still continue to use it as much as I can. I’m a busy mom of four boys (and don’t forget, a husband, lol) so I can use all the help I can get with any and all meals!

Plus when fall comes around and the weather cools down, all I want is a warm, comforting, delicious meal on the table. I crave it! The last few weeks have been SO hot around here and I’ve been breaking out the bbq to cook dinner, but this last week has finally cooled down. Which means, bust out that slow cooker!! I’ve rounded up over 15 of the most amazing fall slow cooker recipes that can’t be missed this fall season! You will be so excited to grab your crock pot and make all of these incredible recipes this fall season!

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Your little ghouls will love these 21 insanely adorable Halloween snacks that are kid-tested and approved! Any of these easy creations will be the hit of the Halloween party!

Be the hostess with the mostess when you serve up any of these super fun Halloween snacks that are perfect for kids! Halloween is quickly approaching and I honestly can’t even believe it. Like, where did the year go? How in the world is it already mid-October? I’m really trying to enjoy this time in my life, even though it’s jam packed with activities, practices, driving kids around, homework, etc.

But it makes me sad to think that my kiddos are really growing up too fast! Pretty soon my two younger ones will be too old to want to trick or treat and won’t want to dress up anymore, just like their older two brothers. Nope! I refuse to even think about that! Instead, I’m going to be the cool, fun mom and continue to make them the cutest Halloween snacks and put a smile on their faces while I can!

My assistant told me I needed to make a fun, just for kids Halloween snack roundup because she said I had a lot of cute, kid-friendly recipes that I needed to put all in one spot for people. I was like, what? I have a lot of fun Halloween snacks for kids on YHE?

I honestly hadn’t even thought about it! So she put all the links together to the recipes of mine and I was like DANG. You’re right! I have to do a fun roundup with all the cute Halloween snacks, but make sure it’s all about making it fun for the kiddos. Sooo…that’s what I did today! I’m super excited to share it with you! I hope you’ll enjoy some of my favorite kid-friendly & fun Halloween snacks!

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These 15+ Easy Game Day Snacks are all perfect for snacking on while watching a good game!

If you’re like me and like to snack while watching a good football game, I’ve got you covered with some amazing game day snacks from some of the best bloggers! It’s football season!!! Three out of four of my boys play Pop Warner football. My oldest is in high school and decided to skip football this year and just play basketball. My 13-year old plays tackle and my little Irish twins both play flag football. My husband ended up as the President of our local Pop Warner Football League this year, which is bonkers! He’s been working so hard and has done a great job running the football and cheer program over here. I’m super proud of all of his hard work!

I have to say, I really like watching football! I can’t even believe I’m saying that, lol! My mom always loved watching football when I was a kid but I never cared to really sit and learn the rules of the game. But I think having kids that play and a husband that played, really helps peak your interest in the sport. My kids have taught me so much about the sport that I can sit and watch and ENJOY a game on TV or in real life!

One of the best things about football games on TV though are the snacks and appetizers you eat while watching it. I am ALL OVER some good game day snacks! I’ve rounded up over 15 of the BEST game day snacks that will really take your football game experience to the next level! LOL! I hope you enjoy!

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These Healthy Apple Pie Protein Bites are the perfect snack to grab when you need a quick protein boost! Easy to make and grab on the go! (Thanks to Dr. Axe Collagen Protein for sponsoring this post!)

These Healthy Apple Pie Protein Bites are perfect to snack on after a workout or anytime you need a quick protein boost! I’m the worst at coming up with healthy snacks. I usually just end up staring into my open fridge or pantry and then end up not being able to find something healthy to grab, which means not eating. It’s a horrible habit to get in! It’s much better for your body to be fed every few hours, especially if it’s a high protein snack!

The solution to this problem? Apple Pie Protein Bites!! They’re super easy to make, contain ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and stay good in the fridge for several days. Which means, easy to grab, protein-filled snacks for your healthy snacking pleasure all week long!!

Wanna know another cool little detail about these cute little bites? I added Dr. Axe Multi Collagen Protein to them! Have you heard of Collagen Protein before? Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids and is so important that it makes up approximately 30 percent of all the proteins in the body. Packed with four different sources of collagen, Dr. Axe Multi Collagen Protein Powder Powder will:

Support a healthy gut

Support mobility and flexibility

Support healthy muscles

Support healthy bones and joints

Support healthy, vibrant skin

Support a healthy weight while keeping hunger in check

Support healthy, normal aging

Support restful sleep

Support a healthy brain

Guess what else? It’s completely tasteless! You can add the collagen protein powder to juices, soups, yogurts, smoothies, and so on. It mixes in so easily and smoothly, too. This stuff is so awesome! I’m a forever customer and will continue to use this collagen! Head over to Dr. Axe’s website to get more info!

These little Apple Pie Protein Bites are filled with the protein in nut butter, almond meal and collagen protein, so you’re getting a triple dose of protein! I have to admit I was hesitant to name these “Apple Pie” bites because the only real apple pie flavoring is apple pie spice. My 13 year old told me he tasted more of the almond butter than apple pie but I definitely think they had an apple vibe.

That being said, if you want to change up the spices so it’s pumpkin pie spice, etc or just leave it out completely, feel free! I love cinnamon and nutmeg so I love adding it in any way I can, haha!

These versatile Skewered Italian Meatballs can be dipped in pasta sauce for a delicious low carb dinner, served on rolls for meatball sandwiches or over spaghetti! (Thanks to Classico® for sponsoring this post!)

Make dinner time a breeze with these Skewered Italian Meatballs! These little balls of deliciousness are simple to make and have such amazing Italian flavors! I have the PERFECT recipe for you today if you answer YES to any of these questions:

Do you love Italian food?

Do you love meatballs?

Do you love quick & easy dinners your family will love?

Hallelujah, you will flip for these Skewered Italian Meatballs! Meatballs are one of my favorite go-to dinners. They’re easy to make, are packed with flavor and my kids LOVE them. In fact, my Baked Meatballs are one of my most popular recipes on this very website!

Usually I bake them in the oven but with this Italian Meatball recipe, I decided to thread them on bamboo skewers and grill. You can grill outside on a barbecue or on an indoor grill (I love my cast iron grill!).

The food of Italy inspired me to season these meatballs with many of the staples of the area like, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley and lots of garlic! Classico Pasta Sauces have many different flavors of sauces that all are inspired by different regions in Italy. I used the Classico Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce in these meatballs, which has chunks of peppers and onions as well as sausage. You guys, I kid you not, this pasta sauce is incredible.

Classico Italian Sausage Sauce is inspired by the area of Abruzzi, which is in Southern Italy. It has a coastal side and a mountainous side, making it a sort of melting pot for different kinds of food.

Traditionally, these meatballs would have probably been made with lamb and not beef, since lamb is a big part of what the Abruzzi people eat. The Abruzzi people also love a special skewered lamb dish called Arrosticini, which is strips of lamb skewered onto wooden skewers and grilled. This is what gave me the inspiration to thread the meatballs onto skewers.

When I made these Italian Meatballs, I made sure to throw some of the delicious Classico Italian Sausage Sauce right into the meat base so it would soak in the tomatoes and spices. They came out incredible! There are a few really great things about these Skewered Italian Meatballs:

They’re easy to make.

Cooking on a skewer makes for a quicker cook time, since you’re not cooking meatballs in batches on the stovetop.

They’re very versatile. Serve with pasta sauce for a low carb dinner, pile on a hoagie for a meatball sub or toss with pasta sauce over noodles!

Honestly, they’re delicious!

Give these little Skewers a try today and be sure to check out Food Network’s “Everything Italian” to find tons of inspirational Italian recipes! Make sure to enter to win a trip to Italy plus $1,000 while you’re over there, too! Enjoy!

Combine everything in a large bowl except the ground beef. Once combined, add in the ground beef and mix it together with your hands. Form into about 15 meatballs. Place on plate or cookie sheet and place in freezer for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, soak 5 bamboo skewers in water. Pull meatballs out and carefully thread onto skewers. Place back in the freezer (or refrigerator) for a few minutes.

Heat a grill pan or barbecue to medium-high heat. Pull meatball skewers from freezer and lightly brush with olive oil. Place on hot grill and cook, flipping over once, until internal temperature is about 160ºF.

Dip in a bowl of Classico Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce, on a hoagie sandwich roll for a meatball sub or over pasta. Enjoy!

Try these easy ONE PAN meals out for your next dinner! These 13+ recipes will have you drooling and won’t have you doing dishes all night!

Today I’m sharing the 13+ BEST One Pan Meals for you to drool over! These one pan meals look fancy but are easy as can be!

Okay, let’s talk dinners. If you love to do lots and lots of dishes, then this roundup is NOT for you and you should probably look away. If you despise doing dishes and want to do as little work as possible, then keep on reading!! This is the recipe roundup for you! I personally hate dishes. I will do whatever it takes to reuse dishes to make less work for me. I’m lazy! I think having four busy boys has made me a lazy mom when it comes to dinner and dishes.

I LOVE easy one pan meals because not only do you just have one dish to clean after dinner is over, but they’re usually easy recipes that take little preparation and experience to make. This comes in handy when you have a really busy day and not much time to make dinner (and your brain is so fried that you can’t think through simple directions to make dinner, lol!) My boys’ school is starting this coming week and I’m dreading making lunches and planning easy & quick dinners for every night.

I’m super busy with my boys being at THREE different schools again this year. EEK!! Heaven help me! These One Pan Meals will definitely come in handy when I’m stressing about what to make my guys for dinner after a crazy busy day. I hope you enjoy them too! So many delicious dinner ideas for you to check out!

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